As tattoos transition from a once taboo practice into one that’s socially acceptable, artists are implementing elements of this timeless body art into their work. In illustrations, ceramics and embroideries, tattoos have two primary focuses: one is purely decorative and adds a special flair to the subject or object. The other takes a conceptual approach, […]
Category: Illustration
Mauro Gatti’s Funny (GIF) Tribute to Favorite Swear Words and More
“Fuck” and “Penis” are words that easily get censored on certain search engines and social networking sites. But even though the P word is the medical term for the external male organ, it doesn’t matter, it gets red flagged and often banned. Now the fun part is using these words in a humorous and web-animated […]
Artists Who Use the Nude Figure to Tell Powerful Stories
Note: Contains nudity. Throughout history, the nude figure has been a staple of Western art. Ancient Greece was heavily focused on the subject, using it to express the ideals particularly of male beauty. With the Renaissance, the body was a revival of antiquity models, embracing humanism, religion and symbolism. Today, the naked body still acts […]
From Films to Books: Double-Exposure Illustrations by Levente Szabó
In the last couple of years we have seen the rise of double-exposure effects used in photography in addition to tattoo art, poster design, title sequences for TV series… the list goes on. Even BAFTA is in on this; they commissioned Hungarian illustrator Levente Szabó to create five cover artworks depicting the nominees in “Best […]
Plunge into the Hypnotizing Sea of Lines by Mario De Meyer
Probably not the best graphics to look at if you suffer from motion sickness (like me). But they are totally cool if you can handle the swishes and swooshes of lines forming ocean-like waves. These psychedelic-colored strings pull us in like we are traveling through fiber optic cables around the vast Internet. It is a […]
10 Artists Who Contemporize the Ancient Craft of Embroidery
Embroidery is a timeless craft that transcends cultures and geography, having been found as early as the 30,000 BC in Russia, 3500 BC in China… Although it started as a way to tailor and mend clothing, techniques were developed and opened up the possibilities for decorative stitching. As time went on, tapestries became increasingly sophisticated […]
So PineNut’s Dark Retelling of Stories in the Bible
So PineNut is a Tokyo, Japan-based artist creating dramatic works entirely out of graphite. Inspired by the Bible, the works feature stories about Adam in the Garden of Eden, the animals of Noah’s Ark, and the famed city of Babel. PineNut’s emotionless figures engage in a dark and realistically-drawn retelling where cannibalism, sacrifice, and mutilation […]
Subtly-Animated GIFs of Landscape Scenes by Nancy Liang
Sydney-based illustrator Nancy Liang uses dark, nearly abandoned landscapes to tell intriguing stories. Using textured papers and mixed media, she draws out social, cultural, and personal narratives. Each scene contains subtle movements like a flickering light, billowing chimney smoke, and even a floating van. These small animated details, shown in the moonlight, add a sense […]
Visceral Collaboration Depicts Organs From the Inside Out
Note: Contains nudity. Photographer Paola Rojas H. and illustrator David Pérez collaborated on “Visceral,” a series of portraits that depict the body from the inside out. Pérez has used two colors, red and blue, to create anatomical drawings of organs and then rendered them on models’ skin. The hues have symbolic meaning and represent instincts: […]
10 Best Illustrators of 2015
Illustration encompasses many areas of our visual culture. It’s the picture on your coffee cup and a clever advertisement you see while going to work. Illustration is in books, magazines, and accompanies articles online. With so much illustration in the world, there’s a lot of mediocre images out there. But, the cream rises to the […]